What does it mean for a pc to be IBM compatible?

Question

I know computers, I have programed for them both applications for pc as well as web based programing. I work for a company that has employment applications on a website and they routinely have problems when used with other browser aside from IE. Now I am working on an issue with an applicant and was told to make sure that they are using an IBM compatible pc. Thus my question, what the hell does it mean to be IBM (International Business Machines) compatible? I assume that the person who contacted me has to flipping clue what they are talking about. I am 23 so unless it is some old reference then I am lost.

Answer 1

Basically it means it's not a Mac. IBM Compatible is an old term used to describe software or hardware components that would work with an IBM PC, or nowadays, any x86 based PC. The term isn't really relevant any longer.

Answer 2

Ibm Compatible

Answer 3

Also referred to as an IBM clone, IBM compatible is a term used to describe a computer, hardware or software that is IBM/PC Compatible. This does not necessarily mean that the computer was manufactured by IBM.



Today, the majority of computers manufactured and used are either IBM or Apple Macintosh compatible.



Back in the day IBM was the leading maker of computers and they used proprietary hardware. The wouldnt allow anyone else to make parts for THEIR machines.That allowed them to charge whatever price they wanted So makers in japan (mostly) cloned the architecture. therefore if the part worked in their machine and IBM's it was deemed IBM Compatible. Yes it is an old term. Much older than you. I've been dealing with this since before you were born. ( no offense) P.S. If a machine would run MS Flight simulator it was IBM Compatible too .

Answer 4

The PC or the Personal Computer introduced by International Business Machines (IBM) brought computing to the masses. Earlier to the PC, computers were housed in huge rooms and halls in laboratories, universities, government and big organizational sites, Their cost or size did not justify their usage as personal computers. Those which were portable and termed as home computers, (Sinclair ZX Spectrum, BBC Micro, Atari etc.) lacked the firepower, and were just expensive toys and gaming machines connected to a television. A sequence of events which made history - the introduction of Intel 8086, and 8088 processors, numeric co-processors like 8087, the operating system CPM/DOS and MS-DOS brought computing power more "personal", and IBM marketed it as IBM PC. When a product is succesful in the market, (like the ipad in recent years) naturally others will want a pie of the market. So they introduced the IBM clones (Of course at a lower price tag than the pioneer) with the tag line "IBM compatible" meaning that all programs and applications which run on the IBM PC will run on them too. So IBM PC was the benchmark and the term "IBM PC compatible" became the tag line for other manufacturers.

Answer 5

Well way back in the day what we now consider a PC was what would be considered an IBM personal computer. In other words an IBM compatible PC (personal computer) was an x86 based computer. So maybe they are really making sure you're talking about a "PC" instead of an Apple computer?

Answer 6

company which uses technology of IBM (i.e i guess microsoft) is called IBM compatible company.thus the devices made by those company are called IBM compatible . The company such as MACINTOSH dont follow the technology made by IBM or rules made by IBM.so its decices r not IBM compatibles.